Saints-Buccaneers Postgame Notes

New Orleans rolls up 475 yards

The Saints improved to 4-2 on the season and will move into a tie for first place in the NFC South with the Falcons if Atlanta falls to Philadelphia.

New Orleans has a 22-15 record all-time against Tampa Bay, a 5-4 record since Sean Payton became head coach in 2006.

New Orleans had a season-high 475 total net yards, including a 2010-best 212 yards on the ground, reaching the 100 yard mark in the first half. It was their highest yardage total since they had 480 yards vs. New England on November 30, 2009 and their highest rushing total since they ran for 222 yards at Buffalo, September 27, 2009.

New Orleans’ 17-point first half total was their highest in the first two quarters of a regular season game, since they scored 17 in the first half at Washington, December 6, 2009.

In not surrendering any points through the first three quarters, this was the first time the Saints have not allowed an opponent to score this late since a 12-0 shutout of the New York Jets at the Meadowlands on December 24, 1995.

New Orleans successfully converted a season-best 75% of their third down attempts (9-12).

QB Drew Brees completed his first seven passes on a day where he was 21-of-32 for 263 yards with three touchdowns, one interception and a passer rating of 109.2. It is Brees’ 33rd regular season game where he has a passer rating of at least 100 as a Saint and New Orleans has a 26-7 record in those contests. Brees is tied with Tony Romo for the most games with a 100.0 passer rating since 2006.

For the fifth time in six games this season New Orleans scored on their opening drive. This afternoon’s opening drive covered 94 yards on seven plays and took 4:36, with Brees finding WR Lance Moorefor a 41-yard touchdown.

Even though they did not start, Moore and WR Robert Meachemboth had big days. Moore had two catches for 57 yards with the 41-yard TD. Meachem, had a season high four receptions for a season-best 71 yards, including a 42-yard touchdown grab.

RB Chris Ivorystarted at running back and carried 15 times for 158 yards, rushing for 81 yards in the first half alone, including a Saints season-long 33 yard rush. Ivory was the first Saints rookie to rush for 100 yards since Pierre Thomasran for 105 yards in the 207 season finale at Chicago on December 30. It was the highest rushing yardage total by a Saints rookie since Ricky Williams ran for 179 yards vs. Cleveland on October 31, 1999 and was the sixth-highest rushing total by a Saints rookie in club history

S Roman Harper had a team-leading seven tackles and a career-high two forced fumbles. The forced fumbles were his second and third of the season, after he had one last week at Arizona and his franchise-best tenth as a Saint, first in club history and ranked fourth in the NFL among safeties since 2006 when he entered the league as a second round draft pick.

Prior to the game, the Saints hosted PO Holly Crabtree as a guest of the club. Crabtree, a naval medic who is an ardent Saints fan who watched New Orleans’ Super Bowl victory in Iraq, was shot by a sniper in April and has since been recovering at hospitals in Washington, D.C. and most recently in Tampa Bay. PO Crabtree was presented a signed ball and a signed bat from Super Bowl XLIV by Payton and Brees prior to the game, while countless players and coaches thanked her for her heroism and support both abroad and of their team.